Professional services

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The professional services industry has brought a broad and diverse range of businesses into the region including specialist legal and financial advice as well as an increased level of specialist consultancy services.

 

There are 7,700 businesses in the area. Professional services is estimated to make up approximately one third of the economic activity within the city centre alone. Local businesses based in the area include Santander, Mattioli Woods, Hastings Direct, IBM, Brewin Dolphin, Freeths, KPMG, PFK Cooper Parry, Weightmans, Pattersons Commercial Law and many others.

 

Inward investment from large organisations such as IBM in 2015 – who’s move into the city is estimated to have added £4.8m - has combined with efforts within local government to develop much needed office space. This has provided an impressive level of growth driven largely by SMEs - which already had a significant presence in the local economy, with a wealth of small to medium businesses ranging from independent companies to regional offices representing larger organisations.

 

The universities, keen to develop links with businesses and consequently through the likes of Leicester Castle Business School and the University of Leicester’s School of Business, they offer various support measures to encourage the start-up, operation, management, innovation and technology adoption of businesses.